Girl Scouts lead by example, inspired by Christina-Taylor Green
Reporter: Jessica Chapin
TUCSON (KGUN9- TV) - The memory of a little girl who lost her life in the January 8th shooting is inspiring the community to give more this season. The Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation and Team up for Tucson are hoping to set a new record for their toy drive for the Salvation Army December 10.
Sunday, a local Girl Scout troop helped give them a head-start. When faced with a decision on what to do with $150 in extra cookie money, the fourth-grade group decided to donate toys for children in need. The scouts presented their toys at the donation site outside of the Safeway on Ina and Oracle, where the tragic shooting occurred.
Their generosity, inspired by the life of Christina-Taylor Green, came as a touching gesture to her father John Green.
"They understand what giving is all about and if everybody around the country thought like that, I really believe it would be a much better place," he said.
Green said it was their close friends, the Ochoas, who thought of doing the toy drive in her honor. The Stuff the Hummers drive served thousands of families last year. Luis Ochoa says it's the perfect way to pay tribute to the little girl, who loved to help others.
"She was a really special girl and she would have probably been out there with us on Saturday helping," he said.
Though this will be the Green's first Christmas without Christina-Taylor, John still refers to his family as "fortunate," finding it in his heart to help others.
"I guess that's a little ironic but we still feel that way," he said, "We miss Christina every day there's no getting around that. But we are, we're a fortunate family and we were lucky to have her for every bit of the nine years she was here, and we're going to make her proud."
They hope the community feels the same way, and are asking everyone to help donate toys for those in need.
The Stuff the Hummers Toy Drive will run from 10a.m to noon at Sullivan's Steak House on Saturday, December 10th. They hope to fill more than 50 Hummers with toys. There will also be contests, entertainment, and family activities.
Donation sites are also spread throughout the city for anyone who would like to donate during the week. Click here for more information.
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